Trunnion structure for ladles



JamZB, 1934. w. DE FRIES TRUNNION STRUCTURE FOR LADLES Filed Nov. 12,1931 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETRUNNION STRUCTURE FOR LADLES Application November 12, 1931 Serial No.574,506

12 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to structures eifective for thehandling of material, and more particularly to an improved trunnionmounting for use in ladles and similar articles provided for theconveying, handling or transporting of molten metal. The term ladle ishereinafter used generically as a word of definition including differentcontainers for the contemplated purpose, irrespective of the particularshape, size, construction or method of transporting the same.

Ladles as ordinarily constructed for the purpose herein contemplated areeither of the type adapted to be transported by means of a car, ;orcarried about from place to place by means of a crane. In either casetrunnions must be provided to afford the means of supporting the ladle,whether such trunnions cooperate with trunnion bearings or with ladlehooks.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of animproved trunnion mounting and structure whereby greater rigidity andstrength are obtained with a considerable saving of weight.

It is customary in the art to provide ladles with so-called spacers orspacer bars. These are usually of cast metal adapted to surround thecentral portion of the ladle structure and serve both in the capacity ofreinforcing means for the body and to provide-sufficient body for theformation of trunnions. Not infrequently the trunnions are castintegrally with the so-called spacers.

In accordance with the present invention the necessity for such spacersis entirely eliminated, thus effecting an elimination in the weightincident thereto and necesssarily producing a ladle of given capacitywhich will represent a less dead load either on the trunnion bearings orladle hooks. In actual practice it has been found that this saving inweight alone may amount to as much as 30% as compared with previouslyrecognized structures.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustrationonly, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. In thedrawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a ladle having atrunnion in accordance with 'one embodiment of my invention secured inposition therein;

Figure 2 is a partial elevational view of the construction illustratedin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 illustrating another embodimentof the invention with a laminated shell structure;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of a portion of the structure shownin Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the inner end of thetrunnion of Figures 3 and 4.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, there isillustrated a portion of a ladle shell 2 having an outwardly pressedperforated portion 3 directly formed therein and adapted to constitute atrunnion seat. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that asimilar seat will be provided on the diametrically opposite side, notshown, of the ladle body. Adapted to be inserted in the seat by alongitudinal or axial movement, is a trunnion 4 having a flange 5adapted to limit the inward movement of the trunnion and bear againstthe outer end 6 of the portion 3. This end portion 6 is preferablymachined to provide a substantially plane vertically extending seatingsurface, thus constituting a rigid abutment to which the flange 5 may bewelded as indicated at 7.

The trunnion having been thus positioned, interlocking wedges or keys 8are inter-engaged therewith. These keys are of such shape as to providean extension 9 adapted to cooperate with a suitably shaped depression inthe trunnion, and an outer curved surface 10 adapted to bear against theportion 3 of the ladle shell. They also have inwardly projectingportions 11 adapted to engage in suitable recesses in a cover plate 12.This cover plate having been applied, it may be welded around its entireperiphery as indicated at 14 to further reinforce and stiffen thestructure.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the inner plate incombination with the keys 8 forms an inner bearing for the inner end ofthe trunnion, while the outwardly pressed seat portion 3 forms an outerbearing. While the two bearings are not necessarily continuous, they doconstitute in effect an elongated bearing support for the inner end ofthe trunnion resisting any tendency of the trunnion to yield in anydirection. This yielding tendency is further resisted by the provisionof the flange 5. The keys or wedges 8 not only interlock the trunnionwith the ladle shell so as to eifectively resist any rotational tendencythereof, but they are so shaped as to actually preclude any outwardmovement of the trunnion in a direction axially thereof.

Outside of the flange 5, the trunnion body may be shaped to receive abushing 15 mounted exteriorly of, and rotatable on which, is a sleeve16.

The sleeve is herein illustrated as formed with in enlarged outer end 17for the purpose of preventing a ladle hook from slipping outwardly fromsupporting relationship with the sleeve.

For retaining the sleeve and bushing in position, the outer end 18 ofthe trunnion may be threaded to receive an internally threaded. collar19. The collar having been applied, it may be locked against rotation bya suitable key or keys 2%.

As is customary in the art, the trunnion may also be formed on its outerend with lugs 21 providing a key way adapted to cooperate with asuitable locking bar on the ladle hook to prevent undesirable rotationbetween the ladle and hook.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing there is illustrated a slightlymodified embodiment of the invention as applicable more particularly toa ladle car of the type having a trunnion cooperating with a rack orgear by means of which the ladle is rotated. The structure shown inthese figures further differs from the showing of Figures 1 and 2 inthat the ladle itself is shown as being of laminated constructioncomprising an inner shell 22 and an outer shell 23. The outer shell isillustrated as being pressed outwardly to provide a bearing portion 24similar to the portion 3 before described.

Mounted in position within the bearing portion 24.- is a trunnion 25herein illustrated as having a squared or angular cross section at itsinner end 26 to cooperate with a similarly shaped opening in the innershell 22. In this manner an interlock is provided directly between theinner shell and the trunnion in such manner as to tend -to resisttortional or turning movements of the trunnion relatively to the ladle.

For further interlocking the trunnion with the ladle shell proper, Ihave shown keys or wedges .27 similar in construction and function tothe wedges 8. Due to the fact that these keys also provide an abutmentagainst the portion 24, they tend to directly resist endwise movement ofthe trunnion. Furthermore, since they are interlocked both with thetrunnion and with the inner shell 22, they further cooperate with theinner end of the trunnion in preventing any rotational movement of thetrunnion relatively to the shell.

g The trunnion is herein shown as carrying a gear segment 28 havingteeth cooperating with a rack 29, and also having a smooth wheel-likeportion 30 cooperating with a track 31 adjacent the rack. From thisconstruction, the necessity of actually interlocking the trunnion andladle so as to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween will bemore fully appreciated.

With all forms of the invention there is provided a trunnion mountingcharacterized by the I, provision of an elongated seat, hereinillustrated 6G- as composed of spaced bearing portions. The totaleffectiveness of the seat is distributed, however, over a substantialportion of the length of the trunnion, thus tending most effectively toprevent any bending tendency in a direction sub stantially normal to thetrunnion axis. Each structure is further characterized by the provisionof an inner plate serving in the dual capacity of providing an innerseat, and preventing rotational tendency of the trunnion by reason ofthe It interlocked cooperative engagement therewith. as an incidentalfeature, it is to be observed that such plates also tend to present asmoother inner Wall structure, thus facilitating, to some extent,

h the application of the refractory lining which is usually provided.

In both forms or my invention there are also provided keys or wedgeswhich assist in interlocking the trunnion with the ladle itself andwhich assist in preventing both axial movement of the trunnion,particularly in an outward direction, and rotational movement of thetrunnion relatively to the ladle to which it is secured.

The advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoingdescription, which description also shows that the utility or" theinvention is not limited to the particular form and arrangement of theparts shown, changes being permissible therein without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention or the scope of my broader claims.

I claim:

1. A ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting perforatedportion providing a recess, a trunnion seated therein, and a platecooperating with the inner end of the trunnion.

2. A ladle shell having an integral projecting portion with an openingtherein providing a recess, a trunnion seated therein, and a plateproviding a seat for the inner end of the trunnion, said plate andtrunnion being interlocked against 190 relative rotational movement.

3. In a ladle, a shell having an outwardly pressed seat forming portionwith an opening inits outer end, said opening also being shaped to forman end seat, a trunnion positioned therein and having a flange bearingagainst said end seat, and a plate secured to said shell andconstituting a seat for the inner end of said trunmen.

4. In a ladle, a ladle shell having a portion of the ladle shelldisplaced outwardly and perforated to provide a recess, said recessconstituting a seat forming portion, a trunnion seated therein, a flangeon said trunnion bearing against the outer endof said seat formingportion,'a.nd a 115 plate interlocked with the inner end of saidtrunnion. Y

5. In a ladle, a'ladle shell having an integral outwardly projectingperforated portion provid-' ing a recess, a trunnion positioned therein,a flange on said trunnion bearing against the outer end of said portion,and a plate embracing the inner end of said trunnionsubstantially in theplane of the ladle shell.

6. In a ladle, a shell having an integral outwardly projecting portionwith an opening there: in providing a recess, a trunnion welded inposition therein, and a plate providing a seat for the inner end of saidtrunnion and secured to said shell.

7. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projectingperforated portion providing a recess, a trunnion positioned therein andprovided with an inner end of angular cross section, and a plate securedto said ladle shell and cooperating with such portion of angular crosssection to prevent rotational tendency of the trunnion.

8. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projectingperforated portion constituting an intermediate seat for a trunnion, atrunnion in said seat, and a plate secured to the inner wall of theladle shell and constituting a second seat for said trunnion spaced fromsaid first mentioned seat.

9. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projectingportion with an opening constituting an intermediate seat for atrunnion, a trunnion in said seat, a plate secured to the inner wall ofthe ladle shell and constituting a 150 and interlocking means betweenthe trunnion and said structure, said means comprising a series of keysdisposed around said trunnion and bearing against said outwardlyprojecting portion.-

12. A laminated ladle shell having inner and outer plates, the outerplate having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion, atrunnion seated in said portion, and interlocking means between thetrunnion and said inner plate of the laminated ladle shell.

WALTER DE FRIES.

